Rose Black was truly in a dark place.
After her Vicodin prescription ran out, Black turned to opioids bought on the streets. When she could no longer afford opioids, she started using methamphetamines. From there, her whole life fell apart. She lost her relationships with her four children, her home and found herself living on those same streets where she bought the opioids. She even lost the tip of her nose, a consequence of using substances.
According to 2020 data included here, the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics estimates that 37.3 million Americans currently have an active drug addiction. Drug overdose deaths continue to skyrocket, reaching an all-time high of nearly 92,000 deaths in 2020—five times the number only 20 years ago.
National drug-involved overdose deaths
Addiction touches all communities like Black’s hometown of Gillette, Wyoming. Many rural communities, Native American reservations or economically distressed areas of the country lack the proper resources to help those battling addiction.
That is why, in partnership with Trinity Missions and Seton Hall University, Catholic Extension Society supports iTHIRST, which stands for “The Healing Initiative—Recovery, Spirituality, and Twelve Steps.” It is a certification-based addiction and recovery ministry training designed for clergy, religious and laity interested in providing outreach and healing ministries to addicted persons and their suffering families. Program participants learn about the shame and strain of addiction, studying both its devastating physiological and psychological effects and learning appropriate pastoral care strategies.
“Our training is to really understand how to provide spiritual consolation, how to provide recovery resource information and how to walk with [those struggling from addiction] and journey with them,” said Keaton Douglas, MA, executive director of iTHIRST pictured below.
Douglas is passionate about bringing the program to scale across the country in partnership with Catholic Extension Society. To date, 43 participants from seven dioceses have completed the program, with more cohorts planned to launch in 2023. These cohorts will bring 50 more people to the program.
Douglas pointed out that many program participants know someone who is struggling with addiction or are even in long-term recovery themselves, like Rose Black.
Becoming part of the solution
Black was eventually arrested for not paying child support in order to fund her addiction. While in jail, she went to confession for the first time in several years. Although she continued using drugs following her release, she felt a change in her mindset after receiving the sacrament of reconciliation.
At 3 a.m. on December 13, 2019, Black was stabbing herself with a needle. Unable to locate a vein, she looked up and pleaded, “Jesus, save me from my insanity.” Three hours later, she was arrested in front of a Catholic church.
“And just like that, all desire for drugs was gone,” Black recalled. “I can’t even explain it. It was a deliverance.”
After “getting clean” Black was motivated to apply for the iTHIRST certification program as part of Catholic Extension Society’s 2021 pilot cohort with Seton Hall. The iTHIRST courses not only exposed her to the 12 steps but were beneficial to both giving Black knowledge to help those afflicted by addiction and aiding in her own long-term recovery.
Her personal growth in long-term recovery and as a role model for others battling addiction was an inspiration to fellow participants. Faith not only healed her but brought her back to the Church where she went on to receive her Confirmation, as seen in the photo below.
Douglas said,
The reason I do this work is because of people like Rose.”
She continued, “As she undertook this coursework you could see how she could really understand the connection between our Catholic spirituality and addiction and recovery. This is something I hear from a lot of my folks from Catholic Extension Society and beyond: the joy that they feel when now they are on the other side and they are able to become part of the solution.”
Black added, “I have actual training and skills to sit with the afflicted. One of the biggest skills iTHIRST gave me is to give them that love they’re so longing to feel and kind of be a conduit between God and the afflicted. They need people to love them, and they need so much support.”
Today, Black offers Bible study with the incarcerated at the local jail in Gillette, Wyoming, where she was once incarcerated herself. So far, three women she has walked with after their release from jail have gone through rehab and stayed sober.
Black herself has now been sober for more than three years. She has worked to repair her relationships with her children and her father. After a 10 year absence, she was even able to joyfully reunite with her whole family around Christmastime.
And now, Black is an inspiring testament to the dynamic leaders Catholic Extension Society is sending to the iTHIRST certification program at Seton Hall to acquire the advanced knowledge and skills needed to address the crippling effects of drug addiction that impact millions across the country.
Douglas concluded,
We believe that as there is life, there is opportunity for recovery and redemption.”
